2 District 303 Schools On Chopping Block

Two elementary schools in St. Charles could close if St. Charles Unit District 303 administrators move forward with a proposal currently under consideration aimed at redistributing student population and would include changing the district's boundaries. Administrators are expected to provide the school board and public with more information on the proposals, which include re-purposing Fox Ridge Elementary School and closing Lincoln Elementary School at a meeting Tuesday evening. The special board meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Wredling Middle School.

District 303 currently has 1,700 empty seatsat its 12 elementary schools with some schools at capacity while others are underused, the Daily Herald reports. The school district first discussed just closing Fox Ridge Elementary School last month and use its building as an early childhood center.

In recent weeks, schools officials said they were concerned closing just Fox Ridge would not be enough and are looking now at also closing Lincoln – there oldest and smallest school, according to the Daily Herald.

Whether they close just Fox Ridge or both schools, the district would change its boundaries and redistribute students to its remaining schools.

Under its proposal, if the school district closed just Fox Ridge, the capacity of its 11 remaining schools would range from 68 percent at Davis to 99 percent at capacity at Lincoln by 2021, according to district documents. If Lincoln and Fox Ridge were both closed, Davis would be 70 percent at capacity with Richmond being the fullest school at 95 percent at capacity by 2021.

The school district has posted an interactive map that looks at potential boundaries for students if Fox Ridge and Lincoln elementary schools are closed.

More via the Daily Herald and the District 303 website

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